When planning our two week honeymoon, the hardest part was coming up with an essential Thailand packing list. As 9-5ers and weekend wanderers, it’s rare that we can get away from work and daily life for longer than a few days. While I consider myself a light packer, and have mastered the art of a weekender bag, creating a packing list for two weeks in a standard sized carry-on took some strategic planning.
At the end of two weeks in Thailand, there wasn’t anything left unworn (a sign of an efficient pack job!) and nothing we found ourselves saying we wish we packed that! If you are planning a trip to Thailand and unsure what to pack, use this two week Thailand packing list as your guide.
What to Pack for Two Weeks in Thailand
Cash
Cash-only vendors are common in Thailand, so it’s important to always have cash on hand. Taxis and TukTuks are typically all cash-only, as are street food and street market vendors, many stores and some restaurants. Even the shops and restaurants that accept cards often implement a minimum spend.
Bug Spray
Although many common tourist locations in Thailand are not Malaria hot spots, it’s still important to avoid mosquito bites and potential health complications. To be vigilant, we had a two-fold approach to insect repellent. With this approach, throughout our two weeks in Thailand we remained completely mosquito bite free.
REPEL Insect Repellent Mosquito Wipes: We used these 30% DEET wipes when we were in densely forested and high mosquito areas. We applied 1-2 wipes while visiting the Elephant Nature Park and trekking through Doi Inthanon National Park near Chiang Mai.
REPEL DEET-Free Insect Repellent Spray: Although there are debates whether DEET poses any health risks, it is chemical-based, so we opted for a DEET-free mosquito spray for everyday use. When I say everyday, I mean all day, everyday.
SPF 50 Reef Friendly Sunscreen
Even during the cool season, the sun in Thailand is incredibly strong. An SPF of 50 or above will keep you safe from harmful UV rays. If your Thailand itinerary includes snorkeling – and it absolutely should! – look for reef safe sunscreen to protect the wildlife.
Large Reusable Water Bottle
It’s best to use caution and avoid unfiltered tap water in Thailand. This unfortunately leads to an immense amount of waste from plastic water bottles. To help curb the environmental impact, and ensure you have safe drinking water on you at all times, pack a reusable water bottle. Water bottles can be filled either at safe water stations or by your hotel.
Electrolyte Tablets
Between the long, dry flights and hot climate, it’s easy to get dehydrated while traveling through Thailand. Electrolyte tablets, like Nuun, can help keep you hydrated and feeling good throughout your travels. If you end up with unexpected stomach troubles, having electrolytes on hands will save you from becoming dehydrated as well.
Travel Size Tissue Pack
Public bathrooms in Thailand are abundant; however, toilet paper is not. Save yourself a latrine mishap by keeping a travel sized tissue pack on you at all times.
Travel Sized Laundry Detergent
After filling the other travel size toiletry containers with shampoo and conditioner, I made an impulse decision to fill the remaining empty one up with our favorite laundry detergent. It ended up being the crown jewel of our two week Thailand packing list. Although we had access to laundry service at one of our hotels, laundry detergent saved us on the days we were running low on socks and underwear. Pack a small laundry detergent to freshen up smaller items in the sink.
Sleep Aid
A sleep aid like melatonin or ZzzQuil is a must-have to survive a red eye flight. It can also double as a tool to fight jet lag once you’ve reached your destination. For the first two or three nights, take a sleep aid 30 minutes before you’d like to fall asleep to ensure you can get to sleep and stay asleep, to get on the right schedule.
Pepto Bismol
Luckily, this was the only thing on our Thailand packing list that we did not use. I’m hopeful that packing Pepto Bismol is the equivalent of bringing an umbrella – if you have it, it likely won’t rain, but if you’re unprepared, it will almost always rain.
Noise Canceling Headphones
When flying to Thailand and back, we quickly realized the best seats in Emirates economy class were also dangerously close to the baby bassinets. Noise canceling headphones or earplugs will aid in a restful red eye flight. Once in Thailand, they will also help block out noise from thin hotel walls, and allow you to get to sleep.
Camera & Charger
Thailand is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world. Invest in a good quality DSLR or mirrorless camera to capture once-in-a-lifetime memories. The Nikon Z5 or Nikon Z50 are great beginner travel cameras that should be included on all Thailand packing lists.
What to Wear in Thailand
Pack Multi-Functional Clothing
The key to packing for two weeks in Thailand is light, multi-functional clothing. Think about how the wrap you pack for temples in the city can double as a beach cover up in the islands, or how your travel outfit can moonlight as pajamas. As a rule of thumb, pack items that you can mix and match to create versatility within the same pieces.
Prioritize Lightweight Fabrics
Thailand has three key seasons, and all of them are remarkably hot – even the cool season, which sees peak tourism. Prioritize lightweight or sweat-wicking fabrics like performance fabrics, cotton, and linen. I lived in this Daughters of India midi dress. It is 100% cotton and light enough to withstand Thailand’s heat, while providing enough coverage to tour the many temples of Thailand.
What to Leave Off Your Thailand Packing List
Heels and high end clothing have no place on your Thailand packing list. Thai people lean into casual, functional clothing. Unless you plan on booking a Michelin Star dinner in Bangkok or visiting a swanky rooftop bar, leave the heels and formal attire behind. If you do opt for high-end dining in Bangkok, instead pack a versatile outfit that can be dressed up or down.
As a rule of thumb, avoid packing denim or heavy materials.
Thai culture leans more conservative, so short denim shorts, or any tight or overly revealing clothes are best left behind.
Two Week Clothing Packing List for Thailand
- 1x lightweight windbreaker or rain coat
- 2x athletic shorts
- 2x athletic shirts
- 2x swimsuits
- 1x wrap or sarong to easily cover shoulders and/or knees (can double as swim cover up!)
- 3-4x cotton or linen dresses or jumpsuits
- 3x basic cotton tank tops
- 2x linen pants or skirts
- 1x pair of pajamas
- 1x comfy travel outfit
The Best Shoes to Pack for Thailand
Athletic Sandal
Leave your hiking boots or athletic sneakers behind and instead opt for functional athletic sandals. Tevas or Chacos will do double duty as a day-to-day casual shoe, hiking footwear, beachwear, and more.
Casual Sneaker
Two weeks in Thailand will include a lot of walking, and a lot of temples. Buddhist temples require you to remove your shoes prior to entry. Pack a casual sneaker, like the popular On The Roger, that is supportive enough to keep you comfortable when exploring the cities, but are easy to slip on and off when visiting temples.
Basic Sandal
While there is no need for heels in Thailand, a basic sandal can be dressed up for dinners, or worn around beach towns. A simple sandal like my favorite Tkees are slim enough to take up little space in your carry-on luggage.
Planning a trip to Thailand? Pin this essential two week Thailand packing list to save now and read later.
